Giants' Estes Charged in Joyride on Police Bicycle

Nancy Gay, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published 4:00 am, Friday, December 6, 1996

This won't go down as one of Giants pitcher Shawn Estes' better pickoff moves.

According to Los Gatos police, the promising left-hander took a joyride on a $600 21-speed bicycle parked outside a restaurant in downtown Los Gatos in the wee hours of November 16. Problem was, the word "police" was painted on the bike's frame.

In the wake of the incident, Estes, 23, has been charged with misdemeanor joyriding and escaping officers, also a misdemeanor. The case, which has been referred to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, is scheduled to be heard January 16 at 9 a.m. in San Jose Municipal Court.

A joyriding conviction could bring a $400 fine, and the escape charge could bring up to a year in county jail. The Giants said they believe the charges will be dropped.

"As he was out riding the bicycle, if the officer needed the bicycle to get to a call or to help someone downtown, he wouldn't have had that method of transportation," said Captain Jeff Miller, the public information officer for the Los Gatos Police Department.

When bike patrol officers Randall Bishop and Michael Wharton emerged from the C.B. Hannegans restaurant at 12:19 a.m. and spotted Estes, he allegedly returned the bike.

However, when Estes was informed by the officers he was under arrest for misdemeanor joyriding, the pitcher reportedly didn't care.

"You might say he was a little sarcastic. And when told he would be arrested, he told the officers he didn't care to go to jail," Miller said.

According to police, Estes -- who did not appear inebriated -- took off on foot, eluding police. Six days later, the pitcher surrendered to Los Gatos police and was charged with the two misdemeanor counts. He was fingerprinted and released.

"This is a good kid," said Giants spokesman Bob Rose, who declined to comment on the incident, saying it was a "personal matter."

"Certain guys in sports are time bombs, but not this kid," Rose said. "This kid turned down a scholarship to Stanford because he wants to play ball so bad."

Estes started 11 games for the Giants in the 1996 season, finishing with a 3-5 record and a 3.60 ERA.